PLACING THE BLAME.

Taranaki Daily News, 4 March 1920, Page 4

PLACING THE BLAME.

"IE the gas works have tn temporarily close down—which I hope will be obviated— it will entirely be the fault of those who run the works, and not of the Wellington Coal Trade Comnvitteo, lvho control the supplies for Taranaki." These v.*ere the words in which Mr. A. S. Collins, deputy-chairman of the Onal Trade Committee, sheeted home the blame for the position in which the New Plymouth Gas Company was placed recently owing to shortage of coal. Mr. Collins based hiss condemnation of the management of the local gas works on the fact that only a short time ago the company was offered ISO tons of Newcastle coal "to keep tho works go'ng," and as a reserve, but only accepted fifty tons. It would appear, therefore, that in spite of the efforts of the Coal Committee to keep the wheels of industry going as regards coal supplies, those efforts were thwarted by the t)as Company in a manner that shows a total disregard of consequences. The threatened collapse of the gas supply on Sunday was only narrowly averted by a process of "borrowing" that has become habitual of late by the local management. Unfortunately the public have no legal remedy against the stoppage of the supply of gas on which they depend for lighting, cooking, heating and industrial purposes. For a long time past they have been paying full price for gas of such poor quality that at times it was almost useless for lighting and heating purposes, but the meters registered and no allowance was made for wastage. On Tuesday the supply actually stopped long enough to disorganise both domestic and industrial activities. It is extremely galling to the consumers to know that, although there has been great difficulty in connection with coal supplies, yet by refusing 100 tons of coal the Gas Company deliberately courted a stoppage, preferring to trust to luck in the matter of borrowing. Mr. Collins has performed an uncongenial though necessary task with commendable frankness, and the consumers now know where to piece the blame. The Gas Company has a statutory monopoly that is adverse to the interests of the community under such circumstances as those mentioned, and but for the fact that the municipality proposes to acquire the gas works and its business as a going concern, it might become necessary to seek a parliamentary remedy.